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“Xianle. You’re here?”
Xie Lian turns towards the source of the voice with a slight flinch. He hadn't expected anyone to be here, least of all Jun Wu, the Heavenly Emperor.
“Yes, my Lord?”
“How have you found the heavens so far? I see you’ve been exploring”, Jun Wu says, an amused glint in his eye. He is every bit as imposing and grand as the stories depict him to be. And yet— Xie Lian doesn't feel intimidated by him in the slightest. He basks in his presence, like a sunflower turning towards the sun.
“It’s so beautiful— better than any kingdom in the mortal realm! I felt restless staying in my palace, so I decided to take a walk and look around.” he explains. Jun Wu chuckles gently, moving closer to Xie Lian.
“That's true. But even these magnificent sights lose their charm after you’ve been seeing them for centuries.”
“Is that so? Makes sense, I suppose..” Xie Lian tapers off, not quite sure what to say. They walk together in silence.
“Do you want me to show you around?” Jun Wu offers, and Xie Lian truly did not mean to nod this excitedly! His head bobs up and down like a bird pecking at food, and he earns another deep chuckle from Jun Wu.
They walk through broad, gold-lined streets, with palaces on both sides. Xie Lian begins to realise that Jun Wu, beneath his mask of solemnity and grace, is a great conversationalist. There is never a dull moment between them. Xie Lian finds himself almost doubling over with laughter as Jun Wu talks about various… incidents in the heavenly realm. Amusing stories surrounding the Gods, who were not so above their humanity.
By the time they pause to rest on a bench, the sun is setting and the lake in front of them reflects vibrant hues of orange and pink. Xie Lian sprints ahead to get a closer look. He spots koi fish swimming in circles around lotuses in bloom.
He kneels down, robes pooling under him and slightly dipping into the water. He plays with the fish, letting them follow his finger. While he is engrossed in this little activity, Jun Wu appears behind him, placing a hand on his shoulder. Xie Lian looks up— and he is taken aback by the gentle smile resting on the Emperor’s face. Something so soft, almost adoring.
“Here. You can feed them.” Jun Wu says, handing him some pellets. He lets his hand linger on Xie Lian’s shoulder, patting it as he bends slightly.
As the sun dips below the horizon, Jun Wu walks with Xie Lian to his palace. He stands by Xie Lian’s doorstep for about two incense times— listening to the latter talk animatedly about something that happened in his kingdom recently.
They part with a promise of meeting over tea the next day. Xie Lian struggles to fall asleep that night— he can't explain what he's feeling. He’s… giddy and happy. Excited, like a child.
Growing up, he’d heard Jun Wu’s name uttered by his Guoshi about a thousand times. A man immortalised in stories of boundless strength and kindness. Someone he wanted to— no, he knew he could catch up to. Maybe even surpass. Spending so much time with him, sharing laughter, stories and memories with someone who once seemed so far away was an unusual experience.
Morning comes, and Xie Lian is waiting in the lounge rather early. He couldn't keep the Heavenly Emperor waiting, after all. And upon Jun Wu’s arrival, servants pour tea into delicate cups as the pair chatter away. Jun Wu suggests they go to his armory, and Xie Lian positively beams.
They end up sparring outside. Jun Wu’s lightning-sharp movements give Xie Lian a tough time, yet he manages to keep up. Almost like a dance, they go back and forth, neither showing any signs of relenting. At the end of it, Jun Wu has Xie Lian pinned to the ground as the both of them pant heavily.
Xie Lian laughs brightly. As expected, he lost— but he had so much fun. He hadn't had such an exhilarating spar in ages.
“You're good. So good. One of the best I’ve had the honour of sparring with.” Jun Wu is generous with his praise as he helps Xie Lian to his feet.
Xie Lian hands over the sword in his hands to Jun Wu, but the latter refuses to take it.
“Keep it. Consider it a gift from me”, he smiles.
“No, I couldn’t, you’ve been so generous already—”
“I insist.” Jun Wu pats his shoulder lovingly. Xie Lian, feeling absolutely overwhelmed, thanks him again and again.
As they walk back to the palace, Xie Lian spots multiple heavenly officials milling about the streets. He greets them enthusiastically when they turn to look at him.
“...always with the newly-ascended official! Isn't it strange?”
Huh?
Xie Lian whips his head around, looking for the source of the whisper. Jun Wu tenses next to him, confirming his suspicions.
He hears more whispers, sees people leaning in to talk to each other and staring at him as he passes by. Xie Lian starts to feel.. slightly embarrassed, but he has to brush it off. He continues walking with Jun Wu, head held high.
Admittedly, Jun Wu was spending a lot of time with him. But how did the others find it that strange? The Emperor was probably just trying to make newer Gods feel more comfortable! Let a few days pass, and Jun Wu would get so wrapped up in his duties that they’d hardly be able to meet, Xie Lian thought.
He is wrong.
As the weeks go by, Xie Lian and Jun Wu only get closer to each other. Jun Wu surrounds Xie Lian’s life, playing the role of a playful, bantering friend, or a wise teacher, and sometimes a doting father. The barrier of formalities and pretenses between them melts away.
Xie Lian couldn't be more grateful for Jun Wu’s company.